The Portland daily press., 1887-12-29
THE NATIONAL CAPITAL.
Mr.. cIevsIand Attempting to Fix
Things with the Nation.
especial to the Press.l

WASHINGTON, Dec. 2s.-The Baltimore
American says that President Cleveland will
shortly after the reassembling Of Congress,
send in supplementary message. That is,
he will again define his position on the
tariff, but he will take occasion to modify his
present free trade views very materially. In
the supplemental message, which he is said,
on the very best of authority. to be now pre-
pairing, Mr.. Cleveland viii suggest the pro-
priety of reducing the surplus by decrease
of some internal revenue taxation, which
win be Of course Immediately and correctly
understood as meaning the repeal OF the
tobacco tax. Mr.. Cleveland holds that his
message has not been correctly interpreted,
and the supplementary message is therefore
intended to be in the nature Of an adden-
dun. VAN
The Commission Begs the Question.
The formal decision of the Interstate
Commerce Commission on the question
whether express companies are subject to
the provisions of the act to regulate COM
merce was announced today. 1t refers the
question to Congress as one OF doubtful
Jurisdiction for the commission to decide.
The Death Rate In Congress.
Congressman Moffatt was the third mem
Der Of the Fiftieth Congress who has died.
Robertson of Louisiana was the first, then
Kane Of New York, then Moffatt. The aver
age number Of deaths in a Congress is about
eight or nine The largest number that any
one Congress has had is 13; This was in the
Forty-fourth Congress, when such men as
Andrew johnson, Michael Kerr, Coperton
of Virginia, Parsons OF Kentucky, and
others were numbered in the list. The last
Congress, the Forty-ninth, was next in its
bereavements, for it lost II men, including
Vice President Hendricks, who, as Vice
President of the Senate, may properly be
classed in this list. There have been but
two Congresses, the Second and Fourth, in
which there have been no deaths. The num-
ber of congressman who have died in Office
since the first Congress was selected under
the constitution Is 273.
A BeIIIgerent Senator.
Senator Hearst Of California is not at all
backward in expressing his opinion regard
ing the German occupation of the Samoan
Islands. He thinks our rights ought to be
satisfactorily established in the islands, even
if war should result When correspondent
asked how he proposed to secure those rights
the California Senator replied: IF the
Germans refuse to give US equal privileges
with themselves in Samoa, we ought to fight
If necessary to secure them. We made a
mistake in permitting the Germans to secure
a foothold there. We will make another
mistake if we allow them to retain their
present ascendancy to the exclusion Of other
nati0ns-0ur own particularly.
When it was suggested to Senator Hearst
that we have no navy with which 10 ngnt
Germany, the Senator dOggedly answered: /:
"That may be true. but that has nothing to
do with the question. We don't want to con-
slider our navy. We must first consider our
rights. Let the consequences be what they
may. If we show bold front, Germany
will take the hint and treat us fairly. If we
are going to back down every time our rights
are threatened We will soon become the
our Consul General, Mr.. Sewall, and show a
vigorous policy"
January Interest.
The Secretary of the Treasury has directed
the Assistant Treasurers throughout the
country to begin paying January interest on
United States bonds next Friday.
Maine People Made Happy.
The following Maine pensions were grant,
ed today:
Benjamin Davis, South Portland.
INCREASE.
Warren Jones, Unity.
Leonard Briggs, South Paris.
James X. Reynolds, Halowen.
David Palmer, Dexter.
Henry II. Follett, Lambert Lake.
EbeneZer ID. Harlow, South R0bbinston.
Francis Z. Hayes, West Paris
RESTORATION AND REISSUE.
George Hathorn, North Lincoln.
Postal Changes In Maine.
The following Maine postmasters have
been appointed:
Chas. E. Jackson, winn, vice Samuel N. Mer-
James mes G. Fuller, North Appleton, vice James A.
Meseryey, resigned.
The name of the post Office at East Benton
was changed today to Preston Corner.
A post office has been established at Mus
congus, and Alonzo o. Butler appointed
postmaster.
The post Office at South Danville was dis
continued today.
Notes.
The President and party arrived in WASH
ington from Albany at O'Clock this morn
ing.